Stories this week at Wake Forest

PROFESSOR TRACES ORIGINS OF THANKSGIVING

J. Edwin Hendricks, chair of Wake Forest’s history department, can trace the development of the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving feast in 1621 into an important national holiday. In 1789, George Washington proclaimed the first national day of Thanksgiving, says Hendricks. But, it didn’t become an official annual holiday until 1863, when Abraham Lincoln declared that the nation “set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise.”

ENJOY THE MEAL, DON’T OVERINDULGE

“You can eat all the stuff, just not too much of each thing,” said Gary Miller, a Wake Forest assistant professor who specializes in nutrition. “Thanksgiving is a time we tend to eat a little more-just be sensible about your food choices and portions.” Miller suggests eating white meat, which is lower in fat than dark meat. Another good choice is sweet potatoes, which are low in fat and packed with carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Bake the sweet potatoes, avoid using butter and top with marshmallows as an added treat. He also suggests finding recipes for gravies and dressings that are lower in fat and avoiding calorie-packed dips and toppings.

TAKE PRECAUTIONS FOR COLD WEATHER EXERCISE

Exercising in cold weather presents fewer problems than exerting yourself in hot weather, but there are still some necessary precautions for a problem-free workout, according to Don Bergey, an instructor with Wake Forest’s health and exercise science department. It’s important to protect exposed skin and avoid overdressing, says Bergey, who also is the exercise coordinator for Wake Forest’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. He also suggests dressing in layers that can be unzipped or removed as your body heats up. Because water drains heat from the body, exercise enthusiasts should wear clothing next to the skin that “wicks” away perspiration.

POLAND’S FORMER PRIME MINISTER TO TALK

Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, the former prime minister of Poland, will present “The Transition of Poland: From 1990 to 1998” on Monday, Nov. 23, at 3:30 p.m. in Tribble Hall, C316. His talk, which is free and open to the public, will focus on Poland’s transition from communist rule. Cimoszewicz was prime minister from 1996-97.

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